Transforming preconceptional, prenatal, and interconceptional care into a comprehensive commitment to women's health.
Preconception and interconception care respond to the growing body of evidence that many of the most important determinants of birth outcomes may exist before pregnancy occurs. In this sense, the strategy of extending prenatal care into the preconception and interconception periods marks a useful step in reforming the public health approach to improving birth outcomes. However, although helpful in underscoring the continuity of risk that can ultimately find expression in adverse birth outcomes, the concern is that without greater critical attention these relatively new care constructs have the potential to undermine rather than strengthen a comprehensive system of women's health care.
Wise
Paul H
PH
Stanford University, Center for Policy, Outcomes and Prevention, Stanford, California 94304-6019, USA. pwise@stanford.edu
D003191:Comprehensive Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007229:Infant Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016742:Preconception Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health